Sunday, May 13, 2012

Happy Mama's Day

Ethan is a teaser. And he knows it. This morning we did one of my favorite Sunday morning rituals (that I even did when I was a kid). Everyone gathers in Mom and Dad's bed and we talk and laugh and play around. Trent said to Ethan this morning: "It's Mama's Day. Can you say Happy Mama's Day?" Ethan's not a big talker so I prompted him. me "Happy", Ethan "happy" , me "Mama" Ethan: mischievous grin "DADDY!" of course, I thought, but Trent and I both laughed. When we didn't protest against Ethan's replacement word, he smiled, gave in, and said "Mama". I wonder how at such a young age he knows how to tease!

As a side note, I love to be called Mama. I know that Ethan can say Mommy, but I don't want him to, I love hearing him say Mama too much.

So today was Mother's Day. My third. All of them have been special and have been good days to reflect on the great blessing I have to be a Mom. When I was a girl I knew that I wanted to be a mother, but I had no idea how wonderful it would be. Ethan is the love of my life. I cannot express it. I know all mothers love their babies but I can't help but think they would love them more if their child was Ethan (I know its not true-but to me he is just that wonderful).

I once heard of a lady who had a child who she loved so much that she never wanted to have another baby for fear that she wouldn't have enough love for a second child. I used to think she was crazy. Or heartless. Of course you could love two babies. Now as a mother of one I know why she thought that. To me it seems impossible that I could love another child or person like I love Ethan. I know that I can, but it is really hard to imagine. He is everything to me. I cannot believe how all my actions and thoughts revolve around him without my consciously thinking about it. No wonder children think they are the center of the universe!
I am so grateful for my mother who had enough love for me. Who was selfless and serving. Who was always the perfect example for me (even if it was sometimes a bad one ;). I hope to be as good as a mother to Ethan and my future children. I might not naturally be as good, but I know that through the teachings of Jesus Christ I can learn to be more charitable, forgiving, and supportive.

I love being a mother. It is truly the best calling in life that there is.

Thursday, May 3, 2012

Two. Today.

I have a two year old. A TWO year old! How crazy is that?!

So some info on the two-year-old. He talks like crazy, mostly gibberish but a lot of new words every week. Even words that we haven't said in awhile pop up in his vocabulary. The other evening we were at a friends house for dinner and he pointed up in the sky and said "moon!". He had never said that word before and I hadn't said it to him in a few weeks so I thought he was just making sounds. Our friend looked up and said, " Yeah! That is the moon!" Sure enough there in the clear, blue sky was the moon. I was so surprised. How did he remember that word when he had never said it before?

We are always asking Ethan to point to things and people. The other day Trent said, "Where's Caitlin?" He whipped around and pointed to me. I was shocked! So I said, "Where's Trent?" and he pointed to him. Of course Trent and I call each other be our first names but I had no idea that Ethan paid attention to it.
Ethan notices EVERYTHING. He knows which key opens the mailbox and which one opens the apartment. He puts the dirty dishes in the sink, except for the silverware-he puts those in the silverware drawer because he knows that's where they go. In the morning and after nap time we hide Ethan's pacifier and blanket so that he doesn't carry them around all day. We have to find new spots to hide them everyday because he will have us carry him around searching in all the 'usual' spots.

He is totally a Daddy's boy. He usually wants me when he gets hurt but in every other situation he wants Trent. He's funny though because if we are both at home he wants us all to be in the same room together. If either one of us leaves the room he asks where they went and wants them to come back. It is pretty sweet that he loves our little family so much.

He is so social. He smiles and says hi to everyone. He will even shout/scream at them to get their attention and them smile shyly. He loves any kid and thinks that he is as big as they are. He has stayed on the court/field playing dodge-ball, basketball, and baseball even though all the other little kids sat on the side and watched.

He's tricky. He thinks he is so clever. He knows he isn't supposed to go into Mom and Dad's room alone so he will casually walk by our door and 'accidentally' throw a ball in there and then give his question hands and say "go?" and then point. Translation: I have to go in there now so that I can get my ball. Of course he doesn't come back out unless he has some "help".

My mom, Ethan and I went to visit Natalie in Connecticut. We went to walk in the sand at the beach. Ethan was holding Nat's hand as they walked with their feet in the water. He let go, took a few more steps and then bolted into the water, face planting when a wave hit his chest. Natalie ran in, grabbed him and walked back on shore. He started crying-he wanted to go back into the freezing cold water!

Favorites:
Favorite Sport: Basketball. No question.
Favorite Food: Cookies. And ice cream. With Trent as his father how could it be any different? Luckily he loves most food including vegetables.
Favorite Place: Outside.
Favorite Color: No idea, but his favorite pajamas are orange and he either likes them because of the color or the monkey on them...
Favorite Animal: Doggie.
Favorite Song: Jump by Van Halen (because he likes to jump and headbang...)
Favorite Words: Daddy, truck, doggie, night-night

I never thought I could love anything like I love Ethan. Trent and I marvel every night at how much we love him. I am so grateful to be able to celebrate that he is healthy and happy for his second birthday.

Here is an update with pics from his little birthday party:

I made him a basketball cake in a bowl so that it would be roundish. It was a new endeavor, but turned out kinda cool!


We had friends meet us at the park so the kids could play and we set up his new basketball hoop! And Trent would have me note that Ethan made his first shot ever on this hoop!


This is a pic of a balloon that a lady at Smith's gave him for his birthday. Right as we walked into the store an employee approached us and just raved about how cute she thought Ethan was and that her boys were all bald until they were three. She was super nice and then asked how old he was. When I told her it was his birthday today she almost died! She kept telling him happy birthday. Then, after we had left to roam the store, we saw her running up an aisle after us-carrying this balloon! She said she couldn't NOT give him one and that she hoped he had a great day. He never wanted the balloon out of his sight! I seriously think it made his day!